If I remember correctly, it's because the IP owner (Mrs Gygax) won't give permission, and is holding those rights so tightly that they can't breathe. The family evidently had intent to publish either on their own or to license at a higher price. Unfortunately, I think they've assumed that the monetary value of the IP is as high as it was in 1979 - 1981.

-
*jeep! & God Bless!
--Grandpa Chet
"Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports." - George Washington.

MormonYoYoMan wrote:If I remember correctly, it's because the IP owner (Mrs Gygax) won't give permission, and is holding those rights so tightly that they can't breathe. The family evidently had intent to publish either on their own or to license at a higher price. Unfortunately, I think they've assumed that the monetary value of the IP is as high as it was in 1979 - 1981.

Thanks, that makes sense. Not monetary sense but, as to why TLs can't republish as PDF.

Also, for some of the stuff, Gary was less then thrilled of the prospect of seeing some of this stuff in PDF in the first place so it just wasn't done. The Upper Works and the Ysggburgh hardback were never officially released in PDF (and I have have not seen unofficial ones). A shame given that I would really love these resources on my tablet for my own personal use.

Castle Zagyg, Yggsburgh, and the East Mark were great products. Obviously, EGG "got it." EGG and his co-writer, the esteemed Jeffrey Talanian, were pushing through with a terriffic setting, tons of Gygaxian elements, and really a classic place to adventure. E. Gary Gygax had decided that the home of Yggsburgh, the East Mark and all of that setting was at Troll Lord Games. Then, Mr. Gygax passed away. The heart of this project was ripped from TLG the day that EGG's wife reclaimed the IP. No one really, REALLY knows why this was done. Most suspect that Gary Gygax's wife was given some bad advice. After the problematic period of EGG's passing, and the whole IP mess being taken away from TLG, the co-author J. Talanian moved on. I think he said somewhere once that he would never return to the East Mark. And that was the end. Perhaps the owner of the East Mark IP have shopped it around. Perhaps there was once momentum on bringing it back to the fans, but nothing has been heard in years.

At this point, I would just like to remember the greatness of the setting that was released by TLG, EGG, JT and the author's who worked on the few town supplements that were released. It was awesome. It was a great time to be a fan, but now those particular days are over. They will never be back.

Mori, you are correct. I think Stephen told me that Gary never wanted those on PDF. I hate that Gary's products are lost in limboville. If somebody seeks big $$$ from zagyg and other properties, where are they gonna go? Wotc? Paizo? All I know is that most of Gary's faithful are at the youngest, in their 30's. More like 40's and 50's. We're not getting any younger. At this rate, we'll either be too old, or too dead to car by the time somebody strikes a deal. The younger kids will say...rpg's? Gary who? Either way, all the respect in the world to Ernie, Luke, and the rest of the Gygax clan. Castles and Crusades has continued on with some great new material. Trollzah!!

Omote wrote:Castle Zagyg, Yggsburgh, and the East Mark were great products. Obviously, EGG "got it." EGG and his co-writer, the esteemed Jeffrey Talanian, were pushing through with a terriffic setting, tons of Gygaxian elements, and really a classic place to adventure. E. Gary Gygax had decided that the home of Yggsburgh, the East Mark and all of that setting was at Troll Lord Games. Then, Mr. Gygax passed away. The heart of this project was ripped from TLG the day that EGG's wife reclaimed the IP. No one really, REALLY knows why this was done. Most suspect that Gary Gygax's wife was given some bad advice. After the problematic period of EGG's passing, and the whole IP mess being taken away from TLG, the co-author J. Talanian moved on. I think he said somewhere once that he would never return to the East Mark. And that was the end. Perhaps the owner of the East Mark IP have shopped it around. Perhaps there was once momentum on bringing it back to the fans, but nothing has been heard in years.

At this point, I would just like to remember the greatness of the setting that was released by TLG, EGG, JT and the author's who worked on the few town supplements that were released. It was awesome. It was a great time to be a fan, but now those particular days are over. They will never be back.

~O

Total agreement on the excellence of the products. A true tragedy that they were never finished. Maybe when "D&D Next" comes out, there will be an offer from that quarter. If the game is as compatible with old-school products as they claim/hope, then Castle Zagyg would be a good property for Wizards to get.

Despite the current circumstances, I will keep the faith. I pray, that one day, peace will be made with Jeffrey Talanian, and Gygax Games, licenses will be settled, collaberation will commence and we will see Troll Lord Games produce the legendary Castle Zagyg as planned....

Much thanks to Joe Bloch of the Greyhawk Grognard who has immortalized the vision of Castles & Crusades' Castles Zagyg and for keeping the flame of hope burning.

Gary Gygax's Castle Zagyg: Yggsburgh

Beneath the shadows of the ancient, dreaded Castle Zagyg stands the fortified town of Yggsburgh. Its stout walls and cobbled ways give ample refuge to those bold and worthy adventurers who come to the Four Tors to plunder the dungeon deeps of the Mad Mage. Beyond the protective covering of the town's walls and the deep waters of the Urt and Nemo Rivers, lie a vast rolling countryside from the Glittering Knobs, the Uplands to the Lonely Valley.

Gary Gygax's Castle Zagyg: Upper Works

The curse has finally lifted!

Castle Zagyg, Volume II: The Upper Works is the first of at least three boxed sets to comprise this unparalleled mega-adventure. Never before told, these adventures are Gary Gygax’s personal creations. For 30 years, whether at Gary's table or on the convention floor, players have dashed themselves against the shoals of Castle Zagyg. So many have tried plundering these deeps of Gary's favorite wizard that the dungeons have become legends throughout the gaming world

Gary Gygax's Castle Zagyg Volume III: The Dungeons

Beyond the gates and beneath the rooms of the mighty castle lie the upper chambers of the dungeons. Here, Zagyg gathered great store of supplies, built cellars and made room for the host of his minions. Too, he built a great Arena for his evil sport and opened the gate to the dread depths of the Ebon Well.

More than a Campaign Setting!

This third installment of the Castle Zagyg series brings the adventuring party beneath the ruins of the dread castle itself.

Gary Gygax's Castle Zagyg Volume IV: The Deeps

In the Deeps, the true terror and horror of Zagyg's mind was revealed, for here he built his laboratories. And ever his minions carted creatures great and small, proud and downtrodden to the rooms of the menagerie and these fed the vile experiments of his temper. The remains of tortures peopled his museum which led to the great ramp of the Inclined Way and the Catacombs beyond.

This fourth installment of the Castle Zagyg series brings the adventuring party into the labyrinthine corridors of the midlevels of the castle.

Gary Gygax's Castle Zagyg Vol V: Chambers of Stone

Zagyg's power burrowed into the deeps of the earth, where only dark things dwell. In these parts of the dungeons even his minions dreaded to go and they called these places the "Lairs" and the "Chambers of Stone". Here were the lesser and greater Crypts, the Warrens and the nightmare of the Endless Rooms.

More than a Campaign Setting!

This fifth installment of the Castle Zagyg series brings the adventuring party into the caves of the underdark.

Gary Gygax's Castle Zagyg Vol VI: A Lightless Lake

The foundations of Castle Zagyg were built upon the great caverns where sat the foul reek of the Pools of Chaos. Snaking from their deeps were a host of caverns, networks of tunnels that led to countless pits and the deep places of the earth. Here, all manner of evil came to dwell.

More than a Campaign Setting!

This sixth installment of the Castle Zagyg series brings the adventuring party into the magical worlds of Zagyg's making and the heart of his dark realm.

Gary Gygax's Castle Zagyg Vol VII: Zagyg's Way

Beyond the confines of the dungeons of Castle Zagyg, in the deeps of the world, stands the Lightless Lake, bound only by the ever burning flames of the Infernos. Zagyg himself tread those halls with caution, and even then, only when girded in his greatest sorceries. For there, if the legends are believed, were the gates to other worlds . . . worlds of dread and death.

More than a Campaign Setting!

This seventh and final installment of the Castle Zagyg series brings the adventuring party to the point of no return.

So....I am wondering. With D&D Next coming out and the fact that the play test module was written by Gary....is it possible that they will go to Miss Gygax with a sizeable offer for the castle? It would make sense and would be a selling point with us grognards...

I keep thinking WOTC has something going with Gygax Games (or what's left of it). I don't have any hard evidence but with D&D5 going back to it's roots and the 1e reprint I can't help but wonder if something bigger is going on.

Lord Skystorm

Grand Knight Commander KoTC, Member C&CS

Donner Party Meats: We're here to serve YOU!

AD&D per se is as dead a system as Latin is a language, while the C&C game has much the same spirit and nearly the same mechanics. --Gary Gygax 8/16/06

Doing it through WOTC would be better than nothing, I guess. I realize we have no real evidence of any such deal, but I have wondered "what if" because of the 1e reprint deal. My preference would be with the Trolls, but at least the material could be converted. Maybe Jeffrey's hand would be on the Upper Works, and the town districts, but I'd fall over if they consulted him for anything else. Then again, there probably isn't any deal anyway. lol

I was curious after reading you guys writing about Castle Zagyg, so I went over to RPGNOW and saw that the Yggsburgh stuff I bought years ago is still in my Library. So just incase it wasn't supposed to be on there I down loaded them again. It was the East Mark and Store House district ( I think there is a couple more too), I am surprised they haven't taken them down.